Container gardening is gaining in popularity, and one group of people who really benefits from it are the elderly. Bending and kneeling are hard on everyone, but older people tend to lose that mobility as they age. Two students here in Cedar Springs have done something to help seniors enjoy the art of gardening, even if they can’t get down on the ground.

Men of Honor students Matthew Maxwell and Trevor Marshall recently built 11 plant stands for the elderly at Green Acres Assisted Living Facility. The residents will be able to plant fresh fruits and vegetables using their walkers and wheelchairs. Way to go, Matthew and Trevor!

Men and Ladies of Honor is a Christian character-building club for 6th-8th grade young men and young ladies. It focuses on building qualities such as integrity, honesty, perseverance, chivalry, compassion, leadership and more. For more info contact rrbadge@hotmail.com.

The Men of Honor group from Cedar Springs brought love to the elderly at Metron as part of a Valentine’s celebration. Courtesy photo.

On Valentines Day, a young man walked into a school in Florida and brought death and destruction, which has dominated the news. The next day a group of young men from the Men of Honor, walked into Metron of Cedar Springs to bring a Valentine message of love, hope and blessing. These young men sang songs of love, handed out valentines, candy and cookies, and shared the true message of love to the elderly at Metron.

The Men and Ladies of Honor is for 6th, 7th and 8th grade young men and ladies, and meet in separate rooms at Red Hawk Elementary every Thursday after school until 4 p.m. They are part of the En Gedi after school program that runs everyday after school until 5 p.m. Young men and young ladies build godly character and leadership during their meetings. They also attend an incredible weekend camp during the school year.

Men and Ladies of Honor originated in Dallas, Texas and is celebrating its 15-year anniversary. Since their inception, Men and Ladies of Honor has spread across the United States and into 11 countries, including Honduras and South Africa.

During the Olympics, young men and ladies are competing for gold. The Men and Ladies of Honor believe that God has placed gold inside each young person. It’s just a matter of helping them dig it out and letting them discover that God has placed greatness inside of them. We believe each young man and lady is just one caring adult away from being a success story.

Our goal is to start Men and Ladies of Honor programs across West Michigan in schools, home-schooling networks, churches and community programs. If you or anyone you know might be interested in leading, starting-up or funding a Men and Ladies of Honor Program, please contact Randy Badge at 616-799-5776 or email him at rrbadge@hotmail.com. To fund one student with curriculum, t-shirts, camp, and awards for a year costs $108 or $9 per month.

A group of young men from Cedar Springs traveled to Neebish Island in the Upper Peninsula this past summer on a mission trip and showed their character by helping some of the elderly with yard work.

“The work was hard but the payoff of thankful hearts and smiles was so rewarding,” said Randy Badge, leader of the Cedar Springs chapter of the Men of Honor youth group for 6th-8th grade students.

Men of Honor started in Texas in 2003. Tony Rorie, who was then a Dallas middle school principal, started to meet with his four biggest troublemakers. He started mentoring them once a week after school about the basics of manners, leadership, character, and common courtesies. By the end of the year, his small group of four grew to 50. The Men of Honor was birthed.

The Men of Honor is a Christian character-building program aimed at 6th-8th grade students but can be used for any age of men. In the past 14 years, the Men of Honor has spread across the US and into 11 countries.

During that time, The Ladies of Honor (LOH) was also birthed.

The Cedar Springs program partners with the En Gedi after school youth Center at Red Hawk Elementary. MOH meets after school every Thursday in the Media Center until 4pm. They learn such things as leadership, character, courage, diligence, compassion, honesty, integrity, perseverance and so much more. MOH has developed a two-year teaching curriculum for leaders to follow.

Young men and ladies are rewarded with an official MOH or LOH T-shirt by reciting axioms. The MOH can earn five tenant pins for courage, diligence, character, passion, and perseverance. The LOH can earn five charms.

Participants become partially commissioned by completing the 3 MOH or LOH magazines and earn a dagger. They become fully commissioned and become an Honor Guard by reading 6 more books and completing the complementary workbooks. MOH earn a William Wallace sword and LOH earn a beautiful Shield.

The MOH will be going to Pine Ridge Bible Camp for Honors Camp on November 17-19. Any young man is welcome to join the camp. There will be a lot of fun and challenging activities and events that will encourage each young man in his manhood.

On Thursday, December 14, Cedar Springs will be launching it’s own Ladies of Honor program at Red Hawk Elementary right after school. They will also end at 4pm. Any interested 7th & 8th grade ladies can take the shuttle bus from the middle school to Red Hawk.

For more information for Men or Ladies of Honor in Cedar Springs, camp, or to start your own club, please contact Regional Director Randy Badge at rbadge@themenofhonor.org. You can also visit the website at www.HonorMinistries.org.

Approximately 17 6-9th graders, along with their chaperones, loaded the Men of Honor bus on April 26 to travel to Grand Rapids to watch the movie titled The Case for Christ.

Courageous leadership, chivalry, and honor were once qualities held in high regard—especially by the knights of old. But those qualities don’t have to be a thing of the past, and a group of young men in Cedar Springs is learning what it means to become “Men of Honor.”

Randy Badge, a 30-year teacher and youth minister, is the area leader for this Christ-centered Men of Honor organization. Badge has teamed up with En Gedi, also a Christ-centered organization, to share space at the free after-school youth center at Red Hawk Elementary.

This international character-building program from Honor Ministries is aimed at 6-12th graders and meets on Thursdays from 2:40–3:40 in the Media Center.

Badge was thrilled to have 26 young men sign up this year for the nine-month Men of Honor program. “In all of human history there has never been a time when the call for strong men was louder or the need greater,” explained Badge. “I have witnessed firsthand the effects of young men who have no father or an uninvolved father in their lives. Many young men have no model of what real manhood is like.”

The group learns how to build character qualities such as integrity, courage, honesty, honor, perseverance, diligence, compassion, and leadership. Manhood and Christlikeness are synonymous for the Men of Honor.

Cristian Leggett said, “This is a fun group that teaches me how to grow as a man and connect better with God.” A good example of that was an event last week Wednesday, when the group and their chaperones traveled to Grand Rapids to watch the movie titled The Case for Christ.

Other students joined for different reasons.

When Trevor Marshall was asked why he joined the program he responded, “I thought it would be a good way to connect with other Christian young men.”

Matthew Maxwell shared, “I read about historical leaders who were men of courage. I wanted to learn how to grow in Christian courage and strength as they did.”

As these young man practice chivalry and strive to become Modern Day Knights, they must read three books written by Edwin Cole and complete the corresponding workbooks. Once completed, they receive a dagger. To become fully-commissioned, men must read nine books. They are then knighted and receive a beautiful Men of Honor sword for their accomplishments.

There are opportunities to earn tenant pins for leadership, courage, diligence, character, and compassion. A Men of Honor t-shirt is awarded by reciting the axioms, “I am a winner. I am a Man of Honor. I do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. My word is my bond. Being a male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of choice. There is no greatness outside of God. 1,2,3, YES!”

This past summer, Badge was certified in leadership training through the John Maxwell Team. Because of his certification, he can teach leadership skills to organizations, businesses, schools and churches. He also loves to encourage marriages, parents, men and teens through workshops and talks.

To get more information about the Men of Honor program, email Badge at rrbadge@hotmail.com or go to the Men of Honor website at HonorMinistries.com. There also is a Ladies of Honor program, and while the group would love to see one started at Cedar Springs, they would need someone to lead it.

Sgt. Jason Kelley, of the Kent County Sheriff Department Cedar Springs Unit, was presented with a shield of faith by Randy Badge (right), with the Men of Honor program. Photo by T. Bauer.

By Tim Bauer

On Thursday, November 12, Sgt. Jason Kelley, who is stationed in Cedar Springs with the Kent County Sheriff Department, attended an after school program to speak to a group of our middle school young men about courage. The program, headed up by Randy Badge, is called Men of Honor. (There is also a Ladies of Honor program). It focuses on reviving chivalry, honor, courageous leadership, and moral excellence in the next generation, by utilizing a three-pronged strategy of camps, conferences and curriculum. The group wanted to honor our local police officers for their selfless service within the greater Cedar Springs area. By putting into action what they have been taught, the group hopes that other communities will hear about this and do the same thing.

A Shield of Faith was presented to Sgt. Kelley, and the rest of the officers stationed in our city, as a token of appreciation for their daily commitment to protect the citizens of our community. Badge, a teacher at Cedar Springs High School, believes in the vital importance of teaching timeless principles of integrity and character in those who will become our next generation of leaders. Thank you Randy Badge and Sergeant Kelley for your invaluable service to our community. The citizens of Cedar Springs salute you!